Light reflecting means



Feb. 9, 1937. w GROTE 2,069,881

LIGHT REFLECTING MEANS Filed Sept. 18, 1936 1.0.2:? lllllilliihllllllllln 1N VENTOR.

BY W 5 W 442's ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATET OFFICE LIGHT REFLECTING MEANS Application September 18, 1936, Serial No. 101,487

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to light reflecting means of the kind which may be used in connection with various types of signs, such, for example, as advertising, warning and display signs,

and is of the class embodying a series of light reflecting units intended to be rendered visible by reflected light from an external source. Signs of this class are particularly adapted for use on highways and for illumination by the lights of approaching vehicles.

One object of the invention is to provide in a sign of the present type a simplified arrangement of parts which can be manufactured at a relatively low cost and in which the light reflecting units can be readily and conveniently assembled within or upon a sign structure and rendered accessible for removal from time to time as, for example, when it may be desired to repair the sign by substituting new light reflecting units for those which may have been damaged or broken.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a sign of this class an improved mounting for detachably supporting the units within the sign, whereby they may be readily inserted within and withdrawn from the mountings without having to separate or detach the latter from the supporting means therefor.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of assembling and supporting the different parts of the sign whereby to economize in the construction and repair of the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of permanently mounting a series of light reflecting unit holders upon'a supporting member of a sign.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of assembling a series of light reflecting units and holders therefor and of applying the holders together with the units to a sign plate, subsequent to which the units may be readily withdrawn from the holders without disturbing or changing the location of the latter.

A further object of the invention is to provide an economical and convenient method of mounting a series of light reflecting units within a sign for retention therein and convenient removal therefrom when desired. To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a sign constructed in accordance with the invention; 7

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation illustrating one method of supporting the light reflecting units and holders therefor preparatory to uniting the holders with the rear sign plate;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing one of the holders applied to a supporting plate by means of adhesive material;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing one of the light reflecting units assembled within a holder therefor;

Fig. 6 is a side view of a supporting device upon which to assemble a plurality of holders according to a predetermined design or character;

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing certain of the holders in assembled position upon the supporting device with adhesive material applied to the rear ends of the holders, and

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the rear supporting plate in position to have the rear ends of the holders connected therewith by means of the adhesive material.

The same reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

Heretofore in the construction of signs having a plurality of light reflecting units it has been proposed to employ means, such for example as adhesive material, to directly and permanently secure the units upon a support or plate forming a portion of the sign. With this method it is necessary when attempting to substitude a new for a damaged unit to break off the latter and to apply adhesive material or other connecting means between the supporting member and the new unit in order to secure'the latter upon the supporting member. This method has been found to be expensive and generally unsatisfactory since it necessitates the purchase and appli- I cation of additional materials for securing the light reflecting units upon the supporting member when repairing the sign by replacing the old or broken units with new ones. The time consumed in repairing a sign by this method is condescribed and claimed herein, whereby the light reflecting units are detachably carried by holders permanently fixed on the rear sign plate and permitting the light reflecting units to be readily withdrawn and new ones inserted therein upon removing the front plate from the sign.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a housing designated generally by the reference numeral I0 is provided within which may besecured a desired number of light reflecting units or elements arranged according to any predetermined design or disposed in such a manner as to constitute one or more characters, letters, or words forming a. useful sign for illumination by an external light source. 7

The housing preferably comprises front and rear telescoping sections H and I2, detachably connected one with another as for example by means of the bolts l3 as shown in Fig. 2. The light reflecting units or elements disposed within the housing may be of any suitable or preferred type, each preferably comprising a lens M suitably secured within a casing I5, the casing having a suitable reflector not shown for reflecting the light rays passing through the lens. The light reflecting units are each provided with an abutment 5 which may be in the form of a. shoulder or flange formed either on the lens element M or on the casing [5 containing the lens.

The front or display plate ll of the sign is provided with a series of apertures I l for receiving the front ends of the light reflecting units as shown in Fig. 2, the flanges it of the units serving to prevent outward withdrawal of the units from the housing when the front plate or section II is in assembled position upon the rear plate. I

Each of the light reflecting units is detachably mounted within a cup-shaped holder H! which is preferably made to closely fit the outer surface of the lens casing l5 whereby the light reflecting units will be frictionally maintained within the holders to prevent accidental displacement of the units outwardly with respect to the holders upon removing the front plate of the sign from the rear plate.

It will be understood however that while it is preferred to frictionally maintain the light reflecting units within the holders they may be held therein by any suitable means which will permit them to be removed therefrom, as for example by an outward pull on the unit.

The holders l8 are preferably attached to the front face of the rear plate [2 by means of suitable adhesive material as indicated at I9 in Figs. 2, 4, and 5, although application of the hold-- ers to the rear plate may be effected in other ways or by the use of other means if desired.

One method of assembling and securing the light reflecting units to complete the sign embodies the provision of supporting means upon which to temporarily position the units in the order in which they are to be assembled within the sign, or according to a selected design or predetermined character, one example of which is indicated by the letter S in Fig. 1.

The supporting means may comprise a plate or section Ila, Fig. 3, generally similarto the front section II of the sign shown in Fig. 2, and provided with correspondingly arranged apertures for the reception of the light reflecting units. In this case the section II a is placed upon suitable supports 20 in the manner shown in Fig. 3. Theindividual light reflecting units are then positioned upon the section with'their front holders l8 are then inserted upon the units, or if preferred they may be applied thereto before positioning the units within said apertures. The adhesive material can then be applied to the rear ends of the holders as indicated at 19a in Fig. 3,

after which the rear sign plate will be positioned upon the supporting section I la. and pressed down so that its. inner face will contact with the adhesive material on the holders. The rear plate can then be weighted by the use of suitable means not shown, or if preferred the bolts I3 may be employed to force the rear plate down in position upon the front plate in the manner shown in Fig. 2. After the adhesive material has hardened the light reflecting unit holders will be permanently secured upon the rear supporting plate or section of the sign.

The supporting member I la can then be removed and the front plate ll positioned upon the rear plate at which time the front ends of the light reflecting units will take into the apertures "as shown in Fig. 2, thebolts l3 being then applied to connect said plates one with another.

Instead of providing a single supporting plate or'section Ila upon which to assemble the light reflecting units and holders for a plurality of signs, the light reflecting units of each sign may be assembled upon the front plate thereof in the manner described, after which the rear plate of the sign may be positioned upon the front plate and made to contact with the adhesive material on the rear ends of the holders, said front and rear plates being then connected by means of the bolts l3 as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be understood that when removing the front plate as'may be required in the case of repairs, or for other reasons, that the light reflecting units will remain within the holders IS, in which they are heldby reason of the frictional contact between the holders and the light reflecting units.

However after removal of the front plate the broken or damaged units can each be readily withdrawn by an outward pull thereon, leaving the holders in fixed position upon the rear plate and ready for the reception of the new units.

Another method of assembling the different parts of the sign comprises the use of a template, such as that shown in Fig. 6, which. includes a base 2| having fixed thereon a plurality of upstanding cylindrical members 22 spaced to outline a selected design or character, such for example as the letter S shown in Fig. 1. With this method the cup-shaped holders 18 are inserted upon the upstanding cylinder-like members 22 as shown in Fig. '7, the adhesive material I9a being applied to the rear ends of the holdersasshown in said figure.

The rear plate 1.2 of the sign is then positioned upon the template as shown in Fig. 8, and is held in proper position by the dowel pins 23. The rear plate may then be weighted or pressure applied thereto to insure proper contact of the same with the adhesive material. After the adhesive material has hardenedthe'holders I8 will be permanently connected with the front face of the rear sign plate. Said plate can then be removed from the template and the light reflecting units inserted within the holders. The front plate II will then be applied to the rear plate, at which time the outer ends of the light reflecting units will take into the openings of the front platef'When this operation is completedv the bolts l3 W111 be attached to connect the '75 front and rear supporting plates one with another, as shown in Fig. 2.

The method of constructing and assembling the sign described herein afiords a considerable saving both in the cost of labor and materials since it avoids the additional expense of constructing and applying the usual type of light refleeting unit holders to the rear sign plate, which make it necessary to perforate or provide openings within said plate and to fit the individual holders therein.

As distinguished from this method the application of adhesive material to the rear ends of the simplified holders shown and described herein and the assembling of the sign plate upon the holders, and of the units within the holders, constitutes a less expensive and more satisfactory method.

Further advantages of a sign constructed in accordance with the present invention will be apparent when it is considered that should any of the light reflecting units become cracked or broken after the sign has been completed the necessary repairs can be readily made by removing the front plate, withdrawing the damaged units from the holders and inserting new units therein. As a matter of fact the light reflecting units can be withdrawn from the holders and new units positioned therein without the use of tools. This is made possible by providing the cup-shaped holders for the units and permanently securing the holders upon the rear plate instead of the units, as has been done heretofore. Thus the trouble and expense of having to directly connect each new light reflecting unit with the rear plate when repairing the sign is avoided, such an operation requiring the use of means to properly position the units upon the rear plate for accurate alinement with the apertures of the front plate and also requiring the provision and use of materials to connect the units with the rear plate. Furthermore when adhesive material is used for this purpose time has to be allowed for the hardening of the same before completing the work of repairing the sign.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive idea may be carried out in a number of ways. This application is therefore not to be limited to the precise details described, but

. is intended to cover all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The method of assembling a sign formed of o a supporting plate, a plurality of light reflecting units and holders for supporting the units for detachment from the sign, the method comprising assembling the holders upon supporting means according to the outline of a predetermined character, applying adhesive material to the rear ends of the holders, positioning the supporting plate in contact with the adhesive material and uniting the holders with said plate by means of said material, and assembling the terial, withdrawing the supporting plate and holders from the supporting members, and insertin the units within the holders.

3. The method of assembling a sign formed of a supporting plate, a plurality of light reflecting units, holders for supporting the units for detachment from the sign and a display plate having apertures outlining a predetermined character, the method comprising inserting the holders upon fixed on a base and corresponding in outline to the outline formed by the apertures of the dis play plate, applying adhesive material to the. rear ends of the holders, positioning the sup-' porting plate in contact with the adhesive material and uniting the holders with said plate by means of said material, withdrawing the supporting plate and holders from said supporting members, inserting the light reflecting units within the holders, and assembling the display plate upon the sign with the front ends of the units within the apertures of said display plate.

WALTER F. GROTE.

individual supporting ,members 

